Family & Systemic Psychotherapist

We are excited to be recruiting to our newly redesigned Children & Young People’s Inpatient Mental Health Unit at Chalkhill, reopening in Autumn 2026. Following extensive engagement, co‑design, and investment in our clinical model, workforce, and environment, we are creating a modern therapeutic service where young people receive purposeful, high‑quality care.

Following extensive co-design with young people, families and staff, and significant investment in our workforce and therapeutic approach, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a modern, recovery-focused inpatient service delivering high-quality, purposeful care to young people with acute mental health needs.

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Our Refreshed CAMHS Inpatient Service Is Built Around

• Purposeful admissions with early review points
• Structured, therapeutic care programmes delivered across 7 days
• Strong links with crisis and community services, including COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team),
• Trauma-informed and autism-aware practice
• A focus on least restrictive practice and improving experience and outcomes
• Supportive MDT working, safe staffing and strong clinical leadership

You will work as part of a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team, delivering therapeutic care to young people and working closely with families and carers from admission through to discharge.

We are seeking a dedicated and passionate UKCP‑registered Family and Systemic Psychotherapist (Band 7) to join the CAMHS Inpatient Team on a full‑time (1.0 WTE) basis.

You will be committed to family‑focused practice, ensuring families’ needs and experiences remain central throughout hospital admissions. The role involves delivering family and systemic interventions for children and young people requiring inpatient care, and working closely with the COAST team, which provides alternatives to admission for those experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

You will join a skilled multidisciplinary team providing integrated, family‑led care across Sussex. Drawing on a range of systemic psychotherapy approaches, you will contribute to assessment, formulation and the delivery of timely, targeted interventions, supporting young people and families to feel heard, involved and supported in their recovery from the outset.

You will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team and a strong culture of teamwork and shared responsibility for high‑quality care. You will receive regular supervision from the Principal Family and Systemic Psychotherapist and Consultant Psychologist, alongside support from the wider Psychological Professions network.

We welcome compassionate, motivated professionals committed to trauma‑informed practice, co‑production and improving outcomes for children and young people in a fast‑paced inpatient setting.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers specialist mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex.

This post sits within our Specialist CAMHS Services, offering opportunities to work closely with acute, community and crisis pathway colleagues.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to creating a compassionate, supportive working environment where staff feel valued, developed and able to deliver excellent care.

What We Can Offer You

• The opportunity to help shape a newly reopened CAMHS inpatient unit
• Comprehensive induction programme prior to opening, where all new staff train together and contribute to the team’s therapeutic approach

A supportive leadership team and strong MDT culture

High‑quality clinical and managerial supervision

Access to CPD, specialist CAMHS training and leadership development

Career progression opportunities within inpatient and wider CAMHS services

NHS Pension Scheme and Agenda for Change benefits

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Kat Baker Job title: Principal family & systemic Psychotherapist Email address: ***email_hidden*** Telephone number: 07471032071

John Cavanagh , Consultant Family & systemic psychotherapist and Professional Lead for Family & systemic psychotherapy and practice, Sussex CAMHS [email protected] or 07738 757213